*Lara*

"Are you sleeping over tonight and coming with me to get Brian tomorrow?" I asked as we approached Lynn’s house.

"Yeah, stop by my house though. I have to get some things and tell my mom," Lynn replied. I came to her house and she dragged me inside with her.

"MOM!!!! I’m home!!!!" Lynn screamed through the spacious house.

"Hi Lynn! Is Lara with you? I thought I heard her car," Mrs. Cortes shouted back then walked into the room. "Hi Lara!" She greeted me.

"Hello. Um, I’m going to wait in the car. Lynn needs to talk to you. Oh, bear this in mind, Mrs. Cortes---" she cut me off.

"Joan, please. How long have you known me, 7 years?" I nodded

"Please bear this in mind, Joan, we’ll be well supervised at all times," I then left the house to wait in my car. I opened the door and started the engine. I flipped the radio on and it was, of course, on my favorite station.

"Now, a new one from the Backstreet Boys," Jordan, my favorite DJ, said then a beautiful tune to a new song came on. I’ve never heard it before so I listened intently.

"You are…My fire…The one…Desire…Believe…When I say…That I want it that way." Brian’s familiar voice sang softly.

"But we…Are two worlds apart…Can’t reach to your heart…When you say…That I want it that way," Nick’s childish, whining voice continued.

"Hello?? Can we go??" Lynn asked waiving her hand in front of my face. I hadn’t even noticed she’d gotten in the car. I shut the radio to concentrate on driving.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, I was just kinda…um…lost in the music," I explained then backed out of the driveway. We reached my house in about 4 seconds. Lynn and I lived a block apart. I parked the car in my garage.

We grabbed our bags and went inside.

"Mom?" I called, shutting off the alarm. My mother only set the alarm when no one was home, so there was no point in really calling to her.

"Maybe she left a note," Lynn suggested. I walked to the clipboard on the refrigerator where we usually left each other notes. Sure enough, my mother had scrawled out a message.

"Hey Lara! Last minute business. Your father is at his house if you need him. Jason is at his girlfriend’s house. Please don’t hesitate to call your brother there and break up their make out session. I’m sure Lynn is spending the night as usual on Friday nights. Pizza money is in the "cookie" jar. Please pick up Brian and his guest tomorrow (I forgot to tell you that he was bringing a friend). Be at the airport at 8:30 just in case their fight is early. I’ll be home Tuesday. Love, Mom," I read the note to myself silently and handed it to Lynn to read.

"Lara?" Lynn asked after reading it.

"Hmm," I replied.

"Who do you think Brian is bringing?"

"I don’t know. Maybe Harold. Why?"

"I hope it’s Nick."

"You always hope it’s Nick. You’re obsessed, Lynn," I giggled.

"I know. Shut up though. If Brian finds out…you die! Can we order pizza? It’s like 6:30 already," Lynn pleaded. I smiled and grabbed the phone.

"You know what to get. I’m going to change," I tossed the phone to Lynn and went into my room.

I quickly pulled off my clothes and then threw on a pair of my brothers ADIDAS wind pants and my favorite Kentucky Wildcats sweatshirt. I pulled out my cellular phone from my purse and dialed Brian’s number.

"Hello?" Brian’s soft voice answered the phone.

"Hey Rok. What’s up? It’s Lara if you didn’t already guess," I told him. Even though we had talked a lot, I wasn’t sure if he’d recognize my voice.

"I know who you are! I’ve known you for…hmm…lets see…17 years????!!!" Brian laughed.

"I know, but I keep forgetting. I mean, I have to tell people that I don’t know you when I talk to you practically every night. When I used to sleep in your bed like Dawson and Joey from Dawson’s Creak. When we used to practically live for each other. I hate having to make up these stupid lies. I even have to lie to Lynn and she’s my best friend," I said sadly, on the verge of crying.

"I know…I know…but it’s for your own good. I mean, do you really want people using you to get to me? That’s what would happen ya know. I want things the way they used to be. Trust me, I do. It’ll all be better soon, I promise," Brian tried to comfort me. I nodded and mused an "okay".

"So…you going to be happy to see me tomorrow?" Brian asked. I could tell he was smiling on the other end of the line. I smiled when I thought of his smile and the way his eyes crinkle when he does.

"Of course Bri. Why wouldn’t I be? My mom’s out of town until Tuesday so you, me, Lynn and your guest have the house to ourselves. Oh, by the way. I love the new song. Bring me and Lynn copies of the new album so we can hear it before everyone else. Okay?" I grinned, eagerly awaiting Brian’s visit.

"I will. Also, I know you’re wondering who I’m bringing with me. I know you Lara. I’m bringing Nick so that Lynn can finally meet her man. I have to go though. I’ll see ya tomorrow hon," Brian said sweetly.

"You’re the best Bri. I’ll see ya. Bye," I replied then hung up the phone. I placed it back in my bag with an immense smile on my face. Then I walked back to Lynn.